The Models.com Model of the Year (MOTY) Industry Awards are the voice of over 250 voters representing a wide range of the industry’s top professionals, including many of the industry’s top stylists, designers, photographers, editors, hair and makeup artists and casting directors, and a wide range of the next generation of the industry’s emerging creative talents. Participants include Katie Grand, Bethann Hardison, Edward Enninful, John Pfeiffer, Barbara Pfister, Benjamin Puckey, Hung Vanngo, Julie Ragolia, Angus & Noah, Duffy, Tom Van Dorpe and many more!
Fashion’s biggest fans also got in on the fun: the Readers’ Choice section offers an up-to-date and often surprising selection chosen by you, the MDC readers. The people have spoken – thousands of them in fact and their choices are every bit as exciting as those provided by insiders.

The singular face that defined the year as a whole with ubiquitous industry demand and presence. They distinguished themselves via top tier bookings with the best photographers, stylists and clients earning next-level visibility, making them 2016’s foremost star.

The singular face that defined the year as a whole with ubiquitous industry demand and presence. They distinguished themselves via top tier bookings with the best photographers, stylists and clients earning next-level visibility, making them 2016’s foremost star.

Like model of the year, the breakout star has had a substantial presence on the modeling scene, only their careers have just begun to take off in the past several seasons. As a newcomer to the fashion industry, these rising stars have racked up coveted campaigns and impressive editorial work in a short period of time and are set to leave a lasting mark on the industry.

Like model of the year, the breakout star has had a substantial presence on the modeling scene, only their careers have just begun to take off in the past several seasons. As a newcomer to the fashion industry, these rising stars have racked up coveted campaigns and impressive editorial work in a short period of time and are set to leave a lasting mark on the industry.

If the past year has taught us anything it is that every tweet, Instagram photo, and like adds up to a powerful presence within the world of fashion. These models have leveraged their followings into key bookings and heightened influence, inciting a media frenzy with each and every post.

If the past year has taught us anything it is that every tweet, Instagram photo, and like adds up to a powerful presence within the world of fashion. These models have leveraged their followings into key bookings and heightened influence, inciting a media frenzy with each and every post.

Nothing is more important than giving back to the community and during the past year these models have inspired us all by putting charity first. Devoting their time, energy and celebrity to causes big and small, these women raise awareness and bring hope to those who need it most.

Model and activist Adwoa Aboah founded Gurls Talk, an online platform that focuses on women’s issues and provides a safe community of discourse aiming to empower girls. The foundation has plans to become a full-fledged charity.

Alek Wek campaigns as a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador for human rights with a focus on refugees, women and children, as a former Sudanese refugee herself. She is the ambassador for the H&M Conscious Foundation and also raises awareness about HIV/AIDS.

Cameron uses her platform through social media to stay outspoken on a range of social issues and campaigns for community activism. Previously, she organized a a march with People’s Pilgrimage and went to the UN’s COP21 climate change convention to oversee the unprecedented negotiations.

Founded the maternal health organization Every Mother Counts in 2010 and has directed and produced a documentary “No Woman, No Cry” to raise awareness to the challenges faced in maternal health worldwide. She continues greatly to advocate for those causes associated.

This year Doutzen worked in collaboration with the Elephant Crisis Fund to create the #KnotOnMyPlanet social media campaign (featuring herself and other supermodels) that called attention to the poaching of elephants and promoted preservation efforts.

Since she started modeling, Herieth Paul has donated a percentage of her income to help children at her mother’s orphanage back in her native Tanzania. She hopes to one day move back and start a special education school for children with disabilities.

Karlie Kloss created charity initiatives Karlie’s Kookies, which provides meals with sale proceeds to those in need around the world and Kode with Karlie, which helps create coding education programs in high schools and scholarships for female teens.

As founder of the Liya Kebede Foundation, Liya works to advance safe motherhood and pregnancy throughout Africa. Her clothing line LemLem also supports traditional weavers in her native Ethiopia in an effort to preserve their rich history.

Naomi Campbell has supported numerous amounts of charities fighting breast cancer, poverty, and AIDS throughout the world including helping raise money for UNAIDS, Fashion Targets Breast Cancer, and Feed The Children.

Natalia’s Naked Heart Foundation builds playgrounds for disadvantaged youths throughout Russia and she has most recently released Elbi, a micro-philanthropy app in partnership with 31 charities. Natalia is also involved in several other foundations including Hear the World and the Tiger Trade Campaign to stop trade in tiger parts and products.

Sara’s tireless work at The Model Alliance, especially for child models; giving models a voice and a safe haven, along with campaigning against labor abuses in the modeling industry deserves acknowledgement.

Toni’s work with Plan International has garnered financial support for girls through the world in an improvised, uneducated state through various fundraising events.

Best Street Style

The sidewalk is the new catwalk and these models bring fashion to the streets with outlandish and eye-catching looks that have made them the girls to watch for off-duty style. Some have taken their street style prowess one step further, broadening their horizons by acting as stylist on editorial shoots.

Celebrities have become an unavoidable presence in luxury advertising, but certain stars are every bit as captivating as the models. Putting their posing skills to good use (often honed during their career beginnings as models) and bringing with them an air of Hollywood glamour, these are the celebrities who play the role of model with ease.

Celebrities have become an unavoidable presence in luxury advertising, but certain stars are every bit as captivating as the models. Putting their posing skills to good use (often honed during their career beginnings as models) and bringing with them an air of Hollywood glamour, these are the celebrities who play the role of model with ease.

Dear Models,
ZAYN should have been nominated on looks alone, his cheekbones could cut anybody. The outfits and street style he has been rocking this year as a breakout star need to be acknowledged. The world sleeps on (minorities) including Middle Easterns & Asian men + artists, creators and actors. He is not only a spokesperson for that but he stands up for MALE mental health issues, an issue that has been hush hush. Please give him recognition in the future.

I don’t agree with the industry’s vote this year, and even more after I read who’re the ones who voted, you should get more people from the industry to vote, these names are not enough and it doesn’t really reflect the industry’s choice

The only category Gigi, Kendall and Bella Belong is the celerity as model, they havent work as much or havent so much campaigns as a lot of real models, that have been working so hard since 15, 16 to actually see success now. Unfortunately even Chanel booked like 8 celebrities for the pre-fall collection show. Disappointing the magic of this industry also relied on the exclusivity of the brands.

I have got on street style that is the best I have seen! Taupe undertone, house shoes, handy bag with over-size change bag, secuins on bodice in black dress with 2 sashes and roll up purple cap , long blond hair, purple secuin jacket, Normandy Streets WWII Karen Hall Designs 2017

Of course, Kendall “Dead Face” Jenner was the Reader’s Winner. How could I have possibly expected the people of this moment to look beyond what they are told to look at and love and judge for themselves! What a Travesty!

I have reviewed the legends and industry icons lists and I want to question that why Heidi Klum and Tyra Banks are in the legend list instead of Carmen Kass, Angela Lindvall, Frankie Rayder, Maggie Rizer, Karolina Kurkova, and Helena Christensen who are just in the industry icons list.

So sad to see as model of the year Bella Hadid and Kendall Jenner, yeah they are beautiful but lets be honest they arent models, they are JUST famous because of their families, gossips, money and because they are from this social circle that involves taylor swift one direction justin beiber….all the cancer nowadays, anyways, maybe I just hate or Im tired of watching everywhere the kardashians, well, kendall jenner, the both hadids, emily ratajkowski, and a lil bit Cara.FOR ME THEY ARENT MODELS, they are just playing being something because they already have the money now the fame, So, all the people that follow them are just pending of their lives, who they are dating, what are they using blah blah blah….yeah maybe they are not the problem but Im tired of people givig them such importance……IM TIRED!!!!!!!!!!!!

tired as well of watching them everywhere, you can have money or don’t and you can be model but they aren’t, they are just famous so people that follow their lives as religion voted for them in everything, and let me tell you, they are majority of the world…sad but true

what a shame that very hardworking models are being left out in favour of those like Gigi Hadid, Kendall Jenner, Hailey Baldwin and etc. they are media’s favourite for now, but they will disappear in a few years once other models start filling in, which goes to show that that they were insignificant enough to be forgotten